Carlos Polk was a rockhard, ailing high school standout and after an NFL career as a player and coach he returned to the state as a Bears special team assistant.
It's another homecoming for the Bears' special teams, led by new coach Matt Eberfluss.
After appointing former Bears special teams assistant Richard Hightower as its new special teams coordinator, the team on Friday announced the hiring of former Rockford Guilford High School standout Carlos Polk as assistant special teams coach.
Polk starred as a defensive lineman in Nebraska from the Rockford, Illinois school and then played seven seasons with the Chargers and Dallas Cowboys before starting a coaching career.
Polk has coached for 12 years, and was assistant special teams coach for the Jaguars last year.
Polk was assistant special teams coach at Dallas in 2019 and previously held the same role with Tampa Bay from 2014-18. He made his NFL debut in 2010 as a coach with the Chargers as a special team assistant.
As a player in college, Polk made a total of 227 tackles and made the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame. With the Chargers as the fourth-round pick, Polk was largely a backup with six starts in 75 games. He made 121 career tackles.
Bear 2022 Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Matt Eberfluss
Defensive Coordinator: Alan Williams
Offensive Coordinator: Luke Getsy
Special Team Coordinator: Richard Hightower
Quarterback Coach: Andrew Janoko
Wide Receiver Coach: Tyke Tolbert
Offensive Line Coach: Chris Morgan
Assistant Offensive Line Coach: Austin King
Aggressive Quality Control: Omar Young
Linebackers Coach: Dave Borgonczyk
Defensive Back Coach: James Rowe
Assistant Defensive Back Coach: David Overstreet II
Safety Coach: Andre Curtis
Defensive Line Coach: Travis Smith
Tight Ends Coach: Jim Dry
Assistant Tight Ends Coach: Tim Zetz
Running Back Coach: David Walker
Assistant Special Teams Coach: Carlos Polk.